This week’s episode of Scrubs, “Our Role Models,” proved to be fairly less disappointing than the series premier last week. While this week’s episode was still cliché and reminiscent of plotlines in earlier seasons of the show, the characters have started to grow on me.

J.D. (Zach Braff) is incensed at the growing relationship between Drew (Michael Mosley) and Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley). Or rather, he is incensed at how Dr. Cox is strangely obsessed with making Drew his protégé. However, the tables soon turn when Drew panics as a patient codes, ruining Dr. Cox’s incredibly high expectations for him. Now, J.D. has to put aside his jealousy and tell Dr. Cox that he was being too hard on Drew.

Speaking of mentors, Lucy (Kerry Bishe) is also searching for her own. She tries to find guidance from the always-callous Denise (Eliza Coupe), who wants nothing to do with her. Soon, however, Denise finds a friend in a 12-year-old boy whose mother is dying, and is slightly softened. She begrudgingly allows Lucy to follow her.

Lucy is also still hooking up with Cole (Dave Franco), the obscenely obnoxious player who is nowhere near as attractive as he thinks he is.

I have an issue with his character. I can’t tell if he’s so annoying that it’s funny, or just annoying.

And, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m starting to have a problem with J.D. It’s like they’ve exaggerated his character too much.

To a certain extent, his whole overly- sensitive, ultra- feminine but still straight guy persona is part of J.D.’s character and can be very funny. But at this point, this aspect of his character is the only aspect. I wish he could be a little more normal sometimes. You know, like he used to be?

But I promised myself I wouldn’t talk about the old Scrubs in this week’s review. I should focus on the present. Like, whatever happened to Denise and Drew forming a relationship?

They hardly spoke in this week’s episode.

On a positive note, Lucy didn’t irritate me as much this week. Her always sunny attitude and her weird love for horses is kind of endearing. I just hope they don’t make her too much like J.D. She needs to have her own identity.

I have a hunch that Lucy and Denise will end up being best friends. This suspicion first arose when Denise finally allowed Lucy to shadow her. It reminded me of the relationship between Elliot (Sarah Chalke) and Carla (Judy Reyes) in season one.

And now I am sighing to express my sorrow for the absence of Elliot and Carla… Sorry, back to this season.

I guess the key to enjoying the new season of Scrubs is to approach it as a completely new show—if you spend too much time dwelling on the obvious downgrades from previous seasons, you will be disappointed. However, if you enter the series unbiased, you will probably enjoy it.

Charlotte Hagerman can be reached for comment at [email protected]